Spurs Joseph seizes his chance

Updated 7:21 am, Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Point guard Cory Joseph scored eight points and had four assists in Sunday's rout of Detroit, but it was his defense that impressed coach Gregg Popovich.

Point guard Cory Joseph scored eight points and had four assists in Sunday's rout of Detroit, but it was his defense that impressed coach Gregg Popovich.

Photo: Eric Gay / Associated Press

Spurs Joseph seizes his chance

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In his first game with the Spurs in more than six weeks, second-year point guard Cory Joseph fouled out in just 10:47 against the Kings on Friday at the AT&T Center,

“Of course, he was a little antsy and fouled out in a short time,” veteran Manu Ginobili said, “but I think you can see he's going to contribute.”

Aware of Joseph's antsiness, coach Gregg Popovich made sure Joseph, who has spent most of this season with the D-League Austin Toros, would be prepared to start at point guard in the Spurs' first game without injured All-Star Tony Parker.

“(He told me) the day before the game,” said Joseph, considerably less frenetic in Sunday's start against the Pistons. The former UT standout, the Spurs' first-round pick in the 2011 NBA draft, scored eight points and had four assists in less than 18 minutes of the 114-75 rout.

“He let me know, so I was just getting ready for it the day before the game, trying to get focused to go in there and do my best.”

Popovich said Joseph's ability to defend baseline to baseline was the reason he got the start after playing only 40 games with the Spurs.

Spurs guard Gary Neal, who had been Parker's primary backup before lower left leg injuries caused him to miss some games, said Joseph's task Sunday was simple.

“When you're on the court with a Tim Duncan and a few of the guys we have that have been starting for a while — Kawhi (Leonard), Danny (Green) and Tiago (Splitter) — that's pretty much all you have to do at that point guard spot is not lose the game,” he said. “Cory did a great job of that.”

No crutches for Parker: Parker, who's expected to be out four weeks with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain, didn't attend Sunday's game, but he was spotted on the practice court Monday walking without crutches.

Some of his teammates believe he will beat the four-week projection for his return.

“(Tony) is positive,” Neal said. “He's always a pretty positive guy around the locker room. He's going to treat it and get the swelling out. I don't know the diagnosis about how long he'll be out, but I'm pretty sure with his work ethic and his attitude, it won't be as long as they say.”